Imagine that the UK’s British Touring Car Championship was on the back page of every newspaper, discussed in every pub, bus queue and office, and generally followed with the same intensity as football.

“That really was one of my best races,” declared Lewis Hamilton after a thrilling victory in China that broke the domination of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and gave F1 fans some hope that this season won’t be one long victory lap for the young German.

The start of the 2011 Formula One season looked very much like the end of the 2010 one as Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel scampered away into the distance from pole position, leaving his rivals to scrabble for scraps behind him.

And finally – the worst-kept secret in Formula One driving circles has been officially confirmed. Silverstone-based squad Force India has confirmed that young Scot Paul di Resta will be one of its race drivers for the 2011 season.

And so from Barcelona to the gold-paved streets of Monaco – the favourite race of many Formula One fans, a processional frustration for others. And this year the frustrations could be more pronounced than ever.